hear S1 W1 /hɪə $ hɪr/ BrE AmE verb ( past tense and past participle heard /hɜːd $ hɜːrd/)
[ Word Family: adjective : ↑ unheard , ↑ unheard , of; verb : ↑ hear , ↑ overhear ; noun : ↑ hearing , ↑ hearer ]
[ Language: Old English ; Origin: hieran ]
1 . HEAR SOUNDS/WORDS ETC [intransitive, transitive not in progressive] to know that a sound is being made, using your ears:
Blanche heard a crash as the back door was flung open.
Did anyone see or hear anything last night?
Old Zeke doesn’t hear too well any more.
hear somebody/something doing something
Jenny could hear them arguing outside.
hear somebody do something
She heard Tom go upstairs.
hear what/who etc
I couldn’t hear what they were saying most of the time.
be heard to do something
She didn’t want to be heard to criticize him.
► Do not confuse hear with listen to , which means ‘hear and pay attention to’ : You should listen to my advice (NOT You should hear my advice).
2 . LISTEN TO SOMEBODY/SOMETHING [transitive not in progressive] to listen to what someone is saying, the music they are playing etc:
Maggie did not wait to hear an answer.
Did you hear that programme on whales the other night?
hear what
I want to hear what the doctor has to say.
I hear what you say/what you’re saying spoken (=used to tell someone that you have listened to their opinion, but do not agree with it)
I hear what you say, but I don’t think we should rush this decision.
3 . BE TOLD SOMETHING [intransitive, transitive not usually in progressive] to be told or find out a piece of information:
I heard a rumor that he was getting married soon.
hear (that)
I’m so sorry to hear he died.
She’ll be pleased to hear that she can leave hospital tomorrow.
hear about
Teresa heard about the decision later.
hear of
I’ve heard of a job which would be just right for you.
This was the first I’d heard of any trouble in the area (=I had just heard news of trouble for the first time) .
He was last heard of in Washington (=he was in Washington the last time someone had information about him) .
hear anything/much of somebody/something
We don’t hear anything of him these days.
so I hear/so I’ve heard spoken (=used to say that you have been told something or know it already)
There’s a nasty infection going round, so I hear.
hear what/how/who etc
Did you hear what happened to Julia?
I’ve heard it said that they met in Italy.
4 . IN COURT [transitive] to listen to all the facts in a case in a court of law in order to make a legal decision:
The Supreme Court heard the case on Tuesday.
5 . have heard of somebody/something to know that someone or something exists because they have been mentioned to you before:
‘Do you know Jill Marshall?’ ‘No, I’ve never heard of her.’
6 . not hear the last of somebody used to say that someone will continue to complain about something or cause problems:
I’ll sue him. He hasn’t heard the last of me yet.
7 . you could hear a pin drop used to emphasize how quiet a place is:
You could have heard a pin drop in there.
⇨ ↑ unheard of
• • •
SPOKEN PHRASES
8 . won’t/wouldn’t hear of it used to say that you refuse to agree with a suggestion or proposal:
I said we should go back, but Dennis wouldn’t hear of it.
9 . I/he etc will never hear the end of it used to say that someone will continue to talk about something for a long time:
If my Mum finds out, I’ll never hear the end of it.
10 . be hearing things to imagine you can hear a sound when really there is no sound:
There’s no one there. I must be hearing things.
11 . (do) you hear? used to emphasize that you are giving someone an order and they must obey you:
I want you to leave right now. Do you hear?
12 . you can’t hear yourself think used to emphasize how noisy a place is:
Just shut up, Tom. I can’t hear myself think.
13 . now hear this! American English old use used to introduce an important official announcement
14 . hear! hear! used in a discussion or meeting to say that you agree with what the speaker is saying
15 . have you heard the one about ... used when asking someone if they know a joke
16 . I’ve heard that one before used when you do not believe someone’s excuse or explanation
17 . let's hear it for somebody used to say that someone deserves praise, or to ask people to show their approval of someone by ↑ clapping
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ hear to know that a sound is being made, using your ears:
There’s no need to shout – I can hear you!
|
Voices could be heard in the distance.
▪ listen to pay attention to something, using your ears:
I was listening to the news on the car radio.
|
He never listens to anything I say.
▪ make out to hear something with difficulty:
When I got closer, I could make out a human voice.
|
I could just make out what he was saying.
▪ overhear to accidentally hear another person’s conversation:
I overheard her say to her friend that she had lost something.
▪ catch to hear something that someone says:
Sorry, I didn’t catch your name.
|
I caught the last few minutes of the programme.
▪ tune in to listen to a programme – often used in announcements on the radio:
Tune in for all the latest news and views from around the world.
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Thousands of people tune in to the show every week.
▪ audible adjective loud enough to be heard:
Her words were clearly audible.
|
an audible whisper
hear from somebody phrasal verb [not in progressive]
1 . to receive news or information from someone:
Do you ever hear from Jack?
Police want to hear from anyone who has any information.
I look forward to hearing from you (=hope to receive news from you) .
2 . to listen to someone giving their opinion in a radio or television discussion programme:
a chance to hear from some of the victims of violent crime
hear somebody out phrasal verb [not in passive]
to listen to all of what someone wants to tell you without interrupting them:
Just hear me out, will you?